Peer pressure Treated differently

Role of education today (functionalists)

Marxist beliefs about education

School mirrors work place Maintains inequality Hidden curriculumTeaches norms and values

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What did Durkeim argue?

The main purpose of education is to prepare us to make a useful contribution to society

25

What is a comprehensive school?

A school open to all pupils, regardless of their background

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What is a self fulfilling prophecy in terms of school?

If a pupil is told they won't do well because of their background, they won't

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What is setting?

When pupils are grouped according to their ability

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How can setting lead to children underachieving?

Those in the lower sets develop an anti-school subculture, where the behaviour is bad and they don't learn

29

What are independent schools?

They can be private or publicParents pay a fee to send their children thereThey can select their pupils

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What are special schools?

Schools set up for people with special educational needs

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What are academies?

Set up by the governmentIndependent from the local authority

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What did the Fisher Act of 1918 do?

Made it compulsory for children to be in education until the age of 14

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What did the Education Reform Act do? 3

Introduced the National CurriculumIntroduced key stagesMade schools competitive with league tables

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What are signs of material deprivation at school? 3

No money for textbooksNo money for school uniformNowhere/time to do homework as must care for other family members

35

How does the language barrier impact achievement?

It makes it hard for the pupil and their family too engage with the school

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How can parental attitudes impact achievement?

If children don't have a role model with good qualifications and a good job, it will discourage them from doing well

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How can social class impact achievement?

Different social classes have different attitudes concerning education, e.g. Indian families teach their children to work hard and respect teachers

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How can role modelling impact achievement?

Most teachers are whiteThis discourages mixed race children from trying

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How can the curriculum impact achievement?

It is mainly focused around modern countries so people from developing countries don't learn about their heritage

40

Why can teachers cause girls to outperform boys?

Teachers will often label girls as good and boys as bad so they will fulfil these labels

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Why can masculinity cause girls to outperform boys?

Masculinity is all about being tough and hard so boys are peer pressured to under perform or they are called weak and female

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What has changed to give girls a better opportunity at school? 3

Equal opportunitiesChanges in female employmentThe changing role of women

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Why can maturity cause girls to outperform boys?

Biologically, girls mature earlier so they are more motivate to achieve

44

How did the tripartite system work?

Children sat an 11+ examThey would then be sent to grammar schools, technical schools or secondary modern schools

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Problems with the tripartite system? 2

Labelling pupils resulted in a self fulfilling prophecyBecause of the lack of funding, most children who failed the 11+ exam ended up in secondary modern schools. This meant children who had good practical skills weren't being pushed to reach their potential

46

What is the economic role of schools?

They taught children the necessary skills for work

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Functionalist view on the economic role

Schools teach the necessary skills for our developing society

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Marxist view on the economic role

It reinforces the class system by ensuring the low class children go into low paid jobs

49

Feminist view on the economic role

Reinforces patriarchy - women are taught to stay at home

50

What is the selective role of schools?

Selecting the most able for the best jobs

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Feminist view on the selective role

Education pushes children into studying subjects stereotypical for that gender

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Marxist view on the selective role

They don't believe it provides equal opprotunities

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Functionalist view on the selective role

It is good, we need the less clever people to do the basic jobs

54

What is the socialisation role of schools?

Teaching pupils norms and values

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Functionalist view on the socialisation role

This is an important characteristic of a school

56

Marxist view on the socialisation role

It socialises children into accepting the beliefs of the most powerful group